Jason Pritchard

Three of the nine men arrested by Thames Valley police in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Oxford have been released on police bail.

Warrants were executed at eight properties yesterday morning (Tuesday) as part of Operation Sabaton, and among the men arrested include two 36-year-olds, a 29-year-old, a 31-year-old, a 44-year-old, a 45-year-old, a 34-year-old and a 37-year-old.

A further man, aged 34 and of no fixed abode, has since been arrested.

The three men from Oxford, aged 36, 34, and 37, have been released on police bail until July 8.

Five men also from Oxford, aged 36, 29, 31, 44 and 45 all remain in police custody.

The men’s declared ethnicities are five Asian Pakistani, two Asian other and one Asian Bangladeshi. One man did not declare their ethnicity.

The offences include indecent assault, oral rape, engaging in sexual activity with a child, sexual grooming and rape.

Detective superintendent Joe Kidman, head of the Force’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said: “There might be people listening to this today and it may remind them of something that has happened to them, if that is the case then please pick up the phone and call Thames Valley Police on our 24-hour number 101. If you don’t want to speak to police you can call Crimestoppers anonymously.

“We would encourage all victims of child sexual exploitation to come forward and speak to us in confidence. We will listen to you and we will support you.

“Child sexual exploitation is and will remain a Force priority and we are investing more resources than ever before to tackle this type of exploitation across the Thames Valley.”

The warrants into CSE are the first in the area since six men from Banbury were jailed in April after committing sexual offences against girls under the age of 16 between 2009 and 2014.

For further updates about the warrants, follow #Op_Sabaton or @TVP_Oxford on Twitter.